# NTSB DEN06LA094: Cessna 180, N153M, Sheridan, WY, June 30, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 30, 2006, 15:09 local (21:09 UTC) - Place: Sheridan, WY - Coordinates: 44.769165, -106.980278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7692&lon=-106.9803&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Teledyne Continental Motors, Cessna Aircraft Company, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 64057 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN06LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64057/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN06LA094 ## Probable cause the partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing factors were the dirt embankment and fence. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel - throttle/power lever,cable - misrouted - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor) - object - fence (contributing factor) ## Analysis Prior to departure, the airplane had been refueled with 37.5 gallons of 100 low lead fuel. Shortly after takeoff from runway 23, the pilot "heard a pop/bang from the engine...engine seemed to lose power." The pilot stated that he felt a "severe vibration" after the pop/bang engine noise. The pilot executed a 180-degree left turn in an attempt to return to the airport. Subsequently, the airplane landed in a grass field, impacted a dirt embankment and a fence, and came to rest upright in a ditch. Examination of the aircraft revealed that the throttle cable was routed above the rear mounted alternator belt, and the cable was resting on the alternator belt. The throttle cable shielding was worn through by contact with the alternator belt, and the braided cable was exposed. No damage was noted to the braided throttle cable. One of the tubes of the engine mounting frame was fractured; the fracture surfaces were consistent with an overload failure. Mechanical continuity throughout the engine was established when the propeller was rotated by hand, and the engine was test run on the airframe. The engine test run was performed for approximately 1 minute at an engine tachometer speed of 1,300 RPM. No anomalies were noted with the engine during the examination and test run. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined. A review of the airplane's logbooks revealed the airplane underwent annual and 100-hour inspections between the time the overhauled engine was installed on the airframe and the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 30, 2006, at 1509 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 180 single-engine airplane, N153M, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain following a partial loss of engine power during initial takeoff climb from the Sheridan County Airport, Sheridan, Wyoming. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, prior to departure, the airplane had been refueled with 37.5 gallons of 100 low lead fuel. Shortly after takeoff from runway 23, the pilot "heard a pop/bang from the engine...engine seemed to lose power." The pilot stated he felt a "severe vibration" after the pop/bang engine noise. The pilot executed a 180-degree left turn in an attempt to return to the airport. Subsequently, the airplane landed in a grass field, impacted a dirt embankment and a fence, and came to rest upright in a ditch. Examination of the airplane by airport personnel revealed both wing struts were separated, both wings were bent, and the lower fuselage was crushed upward. A fuel sample was obtained from the left and right wing fuel tanks. The fuel samples were clear of contaminants. A review of the airframe logbook revealed the airframe underwent its most recent annual inspection on November 21, 2005, at a total airframe time of 4,572.7 hours, and a tachometer time of 580.5 hours. A review of the engine logbook revealed that the Continental O-470K engine, serial number 47442-6-K, was overhauled in accordance with Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) overhaul manual and installed on the airframe on July 24, 2004, at a tachometer time of 468.3 hours. The engine underwent its most recent 100-hour inspection on November 21, 2005. The tachometer time was 612.8 hours at the time of the accident. On August 15, 2006, at the facilities of Beegles Aircraft Services, Greeley, Colorado, under the supervision of the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the airframe and engine were examined. Examination of the aircraft revealed that the throttle cable was routed above the rear mounted alternator belt, and the cable was resting on the alternator belt. The throttle cable shielding was worn through by contact with the alternator belt, and the braided cable was exposed. No damage was noted to the braided throttle cable. One of the tubes of the engine mounting frame was fractured; the fracture surfaces were consistent with an overload failure. Mechanical continuity throughout the engine was established when the propeller was rotated by hand, and the engine was test run on the airframe. The engine test run was performed for approximately 1 minute at an engine tachometer speed of 1,300 RPM. No anomalies were noted with the engine during the examination and test run. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N153M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N153M-2009-10-29), registration cancelled 2009-10-29, S/N 32314, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32314 - Airframe hours: 4572.7 - Engines: Continental O-470K 230 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Harris K. Butler III - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2005, 4,572.7 hours before - Departed: SHR, Sheridan, WY - Destination: 6S5, Hamilton, MT - Airport: SHR, Sheridan County Airport, runway 23, 5,039 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 1,134 total, 491 in this make and model, 1,039 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: SHR ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20060630012469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060630012469A), Jun 30, 2006: Cessna 180, Sheridan, WY, Substantial damage. (-23) Approximately two minutes after a normal take off and climb from runway 23 the pilot reports hearing a loud bang or pop followed by a loss of engine… ## Other investigations on N153M (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB DEN84LA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA190), Jun 21, 1984: Cessna 180 (N153M), Gallup, NM, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.